Mychajliw, Collins label Jacobs ‘never-Trumper’ as congressional race begins

Buffalo News (NY)

May 18-- May 18--More than a year before any potential Republican primary for the 27th Congressional District, Stefan I. Mychajliw Jr. has boiled down the issues to one.

Who will emerge, the Erie County comptroller and possible contender asked, as the strongest supporter of President Trump. In New York's most Republican and pro-Trump turf, he predicted, the newly announced candidacy of State Sen. Christopher L. Jacobs simply won't work.

Already, Mychajliw began lashing out at Jacobs as an "Albany moderate and never-Trumper" who fails to reflect the district's conservatism. He said Jacobs' Senate voting record favors abortion rights and supporting illegal immigrants participating in the state college savings plan.

"That's the exact opposite of the views of President Trump and the voters of the 27th District," he said Friday.

But Jacobs does not seem ready to wear the "never-Trump" label, backing the president on Thursday.

"I support the president and the 'make America great again' policies he advocates," Jacobs said, citing tax relief, rolling back Obama administration regulations and "sticking up for America."

And his stand on abortion has ranged from describing himself as pro-choice while running for lieutenant governor in 2006, to voting against expanded abortion rights earlier this year in the Senate.

Jacobs on Thursday labeled Collins as ineffective because of his federal indictment for insider trading and announced his own candidacy for 2020. Just hours later, Mychajliw went on the offensive, predicting voters will appreciate his record of strongly supporting the president on almost all issues. He labeled a pro-Trump record as far more important in the conservative district than any "crossover appeal" offered by Jacobs to Democrats.

Mychajliw stopped short of declaring his own candidacy Friday, and also would not say he will challenge Collins should the incumbent run again. But he has been traveling the district and conferring with party leaders for months in the event Collins forgoes a fifth term. And he said he is ready to match his conservative record against a Jacobs legacy he called "borderline liberal that would make New York City proud."

While Jacobs' Thursday remarks clearly broke with Collins, Mychajliw would not follow. Indeed, the comptroller continues supporting the congressman and spent most of the 2018 campaign (which Collins barely won over Democrat Nate McMurray) at Collins' side.

On Friday he would not answer if he viewed Collins as incapable of adequately representing his constituents after the felony charges caused congressional leaders to strip him of all committee assignments.

"At the end of the day, it's the opinion of the voters of NY27 that counts and they will make that decision," Mychajliw said, taking every opportunity to assign to Jacobs the "never-Trumper" label used by the president's Republican opponents.

Mychajliw on Friday also received indirect support from Collins, who used similar terms to describe Jacobs as a possible primary opponent in 2020.

"While I haven't made a final decision on running for re-election, the last thing we need in this seat is a never-Trump Republican who supports abortion rights and has supported savings plans and taxpayers funded legal aid for illegal immigrants," Collins said. "That would be the same as electing a Democrat.

"I ran for re-election to assure that President Trump had an ally in this seat," he added. "The President can count on me to assure he has an ally in 2020."

Mychajliw and possibly Collins are also expected to remind GOP voters that Jacobs served in 2006 as running mate to Republican gubernatorial hopeful William Weld, the former Massachusetts governor, who briefly sought the Republican nomination for governor of New York in 2006 before losing to former Assembly Minority Leader John J. Faso. Weld now stands as the only Republican to challenge Trump in the 2020 Republican primary.

Collins allies were also quietly punching back at Jacobs on Friday. Though the congressman cannot participate in committee votes, one senior GOP official noted recent successes like the nomination of John Sinatra for a federal judgeship and for Peter Vito as U.S. marshal, a meeting of Flight 3407 families with Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, and the appointment of former Assemblywoman Jane L. Corwin to the International Joint Commission.

Jacobs said Thursday he is entering the race at an early date to make sure it remains in Republican hands. He also said he had no problem describing himself as a conservative Republican.

Though Mychajliw said Friday he will declare his candidacy only "when the time is right," the Jacobs move could spur others to accelerate their timetables. Others mentioned include State Sen. Robert G. Ortt of North Tonawanda, Assemblyman Steve Hawley of Batavia, and radio talk show host David Bellavia.

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